No bounce gear retaining cable

[george]

Please advise length of retaining cable fitted to no bounce gear, should landing gear extend fully so that champ looks like a hornet on takeoff and landing. Should retaining cable hold gaer in a more compressed look?

[bernie]

the "retainng cable" was a fix for ad 47-20-2, service hints letter # 12 for champs/chiefs with regular landing gear oleos with a laminated synthane piston vs an aluminum piston. the ad does not apply to the "no bounce gear".

[george]

Thanks for your reply Bernie.
Is it normal for the gear to assume a hornet leg stance once weight is taken off landing gear, the gear folds inward?

[bernie]

seen picture inflight and it definetly looks weird like you say. heard somewhere that the idea for the "no bounce gear" was a military thing for the L16B. they wanted to be able to drop in from 50' and stay put. can't confirm any of this, maybe someone on the web recalls bernie

[Tim Juhl]

Yup. They look funny hanging down when compared to the older type. They were a military requirement and subsequently became the standard install on later oleo-gear Champs. The long travel was supposed to take up the shock of landing on less than perfect strips. They don't show much strut when taxiing and have very little give. Makes for a rougher taxi than the original type. One difference I noted is that on takeoff when you get the tail up you can just feel the springs helping to boost you into the air.

Tim